Journeys

The French Riviera by train with Sawday’s & Byway (8 days)

Sawday's Expert

5 min read

When many thought that the romantic era of train travel had gone for good, along came the Eurostar, tempting us with the very real possibility of popping over to Paris for breakfast in a whispering flash. Beyond that though, it opened up the whole of France to a richer, more considered sort of travel. The only problem, sometimes, is knowing where to start, which is where the great team at Byway come in.

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London, Paris, Nice, Cannes

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Byway are an ethical travel company who build bespoke, sustainable itineraries that take you off the tourist trail. Their team of experts help you with everything from accommodation and train connections to the best place to pick up a pastry. We’ve got together with them and created three special Sawday’s itineraries – one in Italy, one in Cornwall and this eight-day journey to the French Riviera. All of them can be tailored to you in any way you wish, and we’ve filled them with insider tips from our community of experts. If you like the sound of the below, book your trip with Byway and you could be off on a bespoke journey to the French Riviera in a matter of days.

London to Paris

It really is Paris for breakfast, with a couple of hours seeing you trade London for the beautiful boulevards of the French capital. Take a few hours to stroll in the parks, browse the endless array of temping shops. Maybe drop into a gallery or two, or simply find a bustling café, sip a coffee and soak up the satisfying feeling of being back in France. View places to stay in Paris >

Paris to Nice

If you don’t decide to throw in a night in Paris on the way down (although doesn’t that sound wonderfully cavalier?) then it’s all aboard the TGV out of Gare de Lyon for the six-hour journey south. You can sit and watch as the countryside slide by, the misty Alps in the distance as you swing through Avignon, run along the coast from Marseille and pull into Nice in the evening. Three nights in the breezy splendour of Hôtel Windsor gives you plenty of time to pick your favourite from the many beaches, explore up to the site of the original city at Colline du Château and make a stop at the Matisse museum, giving you a perfect blend of nature, history and culture, not to mention the seafood you’ll find all along the waterfront.

View places to stay in Nice >

“Stepping off the streets of Nice and into the Hôtel Windsor is immediately calming. The hotel is relaxed and full of art; the garden an oasis of foliage and huge moon over the pool.” – Patrick, Sawday’s Inspector

Nice to Cannes

Outside of the days of the famous festival, Cannes relaxes a little, falling back into the slower rhythms of a beach town but never losing the glamorous glow. Hôtel Le Cavendish, your home for two nights, is as indulgent as the Grand Tour style name suggests, with owners Christine and Guy taking exquisite care over every detail. They have an agreement with the nearby beach, meaning you’ll always have a sun lounger available, but the staff can also direct you to the best of the town and the area. Cruises to the Lerins Islands, Saint Honorat and Sainte Marguerite, give you a fresh perspective on the bay and there’s Le Suquet, the city’s old quarter, as well as food markets and the stunning view from Place de La Castre, which is well worth the climb. At the literal other extreme, dive down into the waters of the Écomusée Sous-Marin and drift among the great stone heads, made by Jason deCaires Taylor, using the features of local residents.

View places to stay in Cannes >

“There’s a great feeling of friendliness and traditional values of generosity and discretion, epitomised by the complimentary open bar every evening.” – Jon, Sawday’s Inspector

Cannes to Paris

Then it’s time to whistle back up the country, stopping in Paris for a couple of nights, or a couple more if you couldn’t resist a stay on the way out, at Hôtel Sainte Beuve. Here, the rooms wear the effortless elegance of Paris and you can idle on the iron balcony, sipping coffee as you review a week of laid-back adventuring. Spend a couple of days exploring this comparatively quiet part of the city centre, with the Jardin du Luxembourg and the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés a few minutes’ walk away. When you finally board the Eurostar back to London, it’ll feel as if months have passed, full of experiences of a calmer, more authentic France.

View Hôtel Sainte Beuve >

“On the historic Left Bank, close to Montparnasse and many famous spots, but not too touristy. A refined, human-sized home base with a great atmosphere.” – Sheila, Sawday’s Inspector

Browse all our special places to stay in France >

Information & Booking

The Byway team can you help you tailor your itinerary in every way, from lengthening stays and changing destinations to equipping you with hints and tips to the best discoveries at every stop. If you like the look of this itinerary, get in touch and talk it over with them. You could be having breakfast in Paris by next week!

Book your trip with Byway >

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Christopher Wilson-Elmes

Sawday's Expert

Chris is our in-house copywriter, with a flair for turning rough notes and travel tales into enticing articles. Raised in a tiny Wiltshire village, he was desperate to travel and has backpacked all over the world. Closer to home, he finds himself happiest in the most remote and rural places he can find, preferably with a host of animals to speak to, some waves to be smashed about in and the promise of a good pint somewhere in his future.

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